Association of G472A allele of membrane bound catechol-O-methyltransferase gene with chronic post-sternotomy pain

Abstract

Chronic persistent surgical pain (CPSP) is a complex disease with strong genetic component. The studies on revealed association of mutations in membrane bound catechol-O-methyltransferase gene with CPSP were reported indifferent ethnic populations across the globe. We identify that one out of four patients who underwent sternotomy procedure showed CPSP even after 3 months of surgery. The Mb.COMT gene sequence analysis revealed of the four patients, three patients had no mutation in Mb.COMT gene, while in one patient exhibited G472A mutation. Interestingly, this patient showed CPSP even after 90 days of surgery. The magnitude of the CPSP was evaluated with pain questionnaires' at the end of 3 months after discharge from the hospital. In this study 25% (1/4) showed presence G472A allele correlating with CPSP. Further the study suggested that evaluation of G472A allele of Mb.COMT gene in the patients undergoing sternotomy for monitoring pain in pre and post-surgical events.

Novel Arg128Ala variant in Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase gene influence persistent pain

“…Further we noticed that all these patients have silent mutations in which the change in nucleotide sequence does not alter amino acid codes, this condition may persuade in developing missense/nonsense mutations in future generations. This is the first study wherein we observed the impact of the COMT exon 4 novel mutations in patients showing CPSP even after 3 months with NRS scores ≥4 …”

“…Especially COMT mutated allele G472A (Val158Met) associated with chronic post‐surgical pain (CPSP) patients is reported in different ethnic population resulting in a less thermo stable enzyme with reduced activity . In this report we presenting the novel mutations p.(Arg128Ala) and the incidence of other genetic variations in exon 4 of COMT causing CPSP in sternotomy patients (Figure ).…”

“…This is the first study wherein we observed the impact of the COMT exon 4 novel mutations in patients showing CPSP even after 3 months with NRS scores ≥4. 2…”